Lawmakers seek pay raise, security boost
Increases would come amid big cuts to public aid
Lawmakers in Colorado could get a pay raise and increase spending on their personal security next year, even as they cut state programs that help pay for essential things like health care.
Pay for lawmakers next year is set for an automatic increase of about 6% compared to this year, meaning they would make about $50,000, plus thousands of dollars in per diem payments. That increase would cost taxpayers about $400,000 next year.
What’s more, legislators are advancing a bill that would use about $200,000 of taxpayer money next year to hire a security administrator who would be responsible for coordinating protections for lawmakers.
The pay increases are tied to inflation, which has made the cost of living far more expensive for everyone in recent years. And many lawmakers have to put their other jobs on hold during the legislative session that runs from January through May each year.
The security bill also responds to a real problem of increasing political violence across the country that was illustrated in dramatic fashion this weekend by the attempted attack on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Still, Coloradans already think their taxes are too high, so lawmakers taking more for themselves while asking their constituents to deal with less might become a complicated position to defend heading into elections this November.
Need to Know
🔬 The manipulation of state crime lab tests was so extensive that it’s overwhelming attorneys helping those affected. After forensic scientist Missy Woods was charged last year with altering and omitting information from crime lab test results and breaking record-keeping rules, lawmakers passed a bill allowing people to go to court if their case could have been affected by that kind of misconduct. But there are a limited number of attorneys that can handle those cases, and given that thousands of people might be affected, the legal processes could cost taxpayers millions of dollars. (CPR)
🏫 A legal loophole could prevent school employees injured in mass shootings from suing their employers. A judge ruled last month that school employees can’t sue schools to recoup costs associated with school shooting injuries. Instead, they have to go through the state’s workers compensation program, because the claims directly relate to their jobs. The judge’s ruling only applies to a single case, but it highlights the limited impact of a 2015 law meant to allow lawsuits against schools by mass shooting victims, including both students and staff. Few successful suits have been filed under the law, though experts say it has led to more awareness and prevention measures. (Chalkbeat Colorado)
🤖 The Trump administration is backing Elon Musk’s court battle against a law meant to protect Coloradans from discrimination by AI. Musk’s company xAI sued Colorado earlier this month, arguing the law – which hasn’t yet taken effect – would violate the company’s civil rights by forcing its products to align with progressive values. The U.S. Justice Department filed a motion last week agreeing with the company’s arguments and claiming the law would impose “state-mandated discrimination.” (Denver Business Journal, Colorado Sun, read the filing)
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Something Good
🏀 The Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves last night, saving themselves from elimination in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series. That means we’ll get to watch them play at least one more game this season (Thursday at 5 pm). I’ll be honest: after how poorly the Nuggets played in games two through four, I wasn’t sure they could pull out another win. But the Nuggets are the only team to ever have come back from being down 3-1 in multiple playoff series in the same season, so if anyone can do it, it’s this team.